Patient participation in primary care: Why is it important? - A paper clarifying the importance to GPs of involving patients in the wider aspects of the organisation of health care, as well as in their personal care, and demonstrates why GPs need to work with the patients in their practice in order to fulfil aspects of the GP curriculum and revalidation. The article explains how successful collaborative working between patients, GPs and the practices can be achieved for the considerable benefit of all. Follow the link to download the full document.

Dedicated LPC patient facing website - A dedicated website has been created to keep patients and the public up to date with information about local pharmacies. The website has been created by Staffordshire and Stoke Pharmacies and provides useful information about services available from your pharmacies across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

You can visit the website to find out about the different members of staff you might meet in your local pharmacy, the general services they provide and also information about some of the more special services now being offered.

There is a link for you to contact Staffordshire and Stoke Pharmacies directly if you have any queries or comments about the services you have received.

New GP Online Services guide for - Patient Participation Groups members - A new guide has been created to help Patient and Participation Group (PPG) members support their GP practices in encouraging patients to sign up for GP Online Services. The guide - Patient Participation Groups: What you need to know about GP Online Services gives ideas and tips that PPG members can use to support their GP practices, as well as resources, to help promote the use of GP Online Services. It also provides more information on how practices can register patients to use online services and help relieve some of the pressure on staff.

New GP Online Services practice guide for the flu season - A new flu guide has been launched by NHS England Primary Care Digital Transformation to support GP practice staff in encouraging their patients to register and book their flu clinic online this autumn and winter.The guide- Flu Season: Making the most of online appointments includes information on how flu clinics can be used to register patients for online as well as providing information and links to further resources on the wider benefits of GP Online Services for both patients and practices. CCGs will wish to cascade this to GP Practices in their area.

PPG members pack - Moorland Medical PPG have been working on a PPG members pack which can be accessed by following the link and modified to suit your own PPG. The Key document follows the 4 areas from the NAPP Building Better Participation document.

Booking Community Fire Station Rooms for meetings

Telephone numbers to book a meeting room at Community Fire Stations -

Newcastle Community Fire Station ring 01785 898897

Hanley Community Fire Station ring 01785 898760

Leek Community Fire Station ring 01785 898501

Patient Leaflet – what happens when you are referred by your GP to see a Specialist? NHS England, together with the British Medical Association and the National Association for Patient Participation, have produced a leaflet for patients to understand what they can expect if they are referred by their GP to see a specialist or consultant at a hospital or a community health centre. Follow this link to access the leaflet.

NHS England’s Public Participation team has published new participation guides focusing on topics such as online participation, diverse and inclusive participation and how to run focus groups. There are now 13 guides in the series and these are available on NHS England’s Involvement Hub, alongside other resources and best practice case studies. To suggest a topic for a new guide, or to provide feedback on existing guides, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further resources are available on the National Association for

Patient Participation (NAPP) website.

PPGs - First Year Joining Fee £60

On joining, new PPGs receive all the benefits of Annual Membership and the following package of resources

Starting, Growing and Sustaining Successful PPGs: guide to setting up a PPG in general practice

21 Ways to make your practice thrive

Communications Toolkit for PPGs

Two N.A.P.P. ‘Proud to have a PPG ‘stickers

Copy of ‘What to expect from your doctor: a guide for patients (GMC)

Copy of CQC "What standards you have a right to expect from the regulation of your GP practice"